Let the games commence

 And by games, I obviously mean "projects I've been putting off all summer and suddenly need to have done before snow flies".  

My first project was to reclaim the lower patio.  Remember when I created it without edging and blithely declared that I wanted to be a part of the landscape, not apart from the landscape?  What a maroon.  Two years later and the landscape had basically begun to swallow my patio whole.  

It was obvious this would never become the hub of summer activity I'd hoped, so I decided to revamp it as a simple fire pit area.  I gathered all of the tools I would need and many I wouldn't, and began reclaiming the overgrown edges.

So I wouldn't have to fight back the weeds and grass, I finally conceded to a concrete block edging, since I have an abundance of block on hand.

 

 

All that was left was to purchase caps for the cinder blocks and add the fire pit and furniture.

The fire pit was picked up off the side of the road free, and I might get a few months out of it before I'll need to buy a new one.  I like being able to cook over a wood fire, and with some items I had on hand I was able to finagle a grate out of a couple pieces of rebar and the racks I grabbed from my mother's old stove when she had it replaced.

The fireplace insert and grate will come in handy as a firewood holder and table or plant stand.  Next year I plan to get a small gas grill and set it up down here, as well.

I purchased some landscape adhesive to glue to the block caps down, but I'm not sure if I'll do that or not.

Now, on to the next project.  I plan to put in a path from the patio to the water feature using the bluestone I have on hand.  If there's enough stone, I may just make a small area to set the iron bench on, so I don't have to move it every time I need to mow.  Obviously, from the length of the grass, I don't mow it often.  This is a troublesome little area that needs some TLC.  Off I go!